Sons of Bernt Balchen Lodge President’s Message As most of you know, teresting for any mid- duce yourself and get our lodge officer instal- dle and high schoolers to know him or her. lation was cancelled on in the lodge. Did you We have a wonderful January 12th due to the know that we have calendar of events weather. Officers will had some of our youth with a variety of activ- VIKING HALL 349-1613 be installed at the Feb- attend this folk ities to interest most www.sofnalaska.com ruary business meeting. school? Mark Febru- of us and, of course, Any business conducted ary 9th on your calen- we always welcome at that meeting will be dar, bring the kids any offers of help. February very limited because we and join us. We will Give an event chair or 2012 also have the folk school have a potluck start- the Viking Hall office students visiting that ing at 6:30 and then a call if you want to evening. the program. help with an event. It’s februar The folk school students We have a number of a great way to get to always have a wonder- new members in our know the lodge and its fully entertaining lodge. If you see some- members.

presentation for us. It one you don’t know at Fraternally, would be especially in- a lodge event, intro- Mickey Øytun Folkehøyskole Students Visiting Anchorage In February another and two women. They about themselves group of Øytun Folke- arrive Monday, Feb- and what they plan høyskole students from ruary 6th and leave to do while here in Alta, Norway, will be in Saturday, February Alaska. The potluck Anchorage to prepare 11th for Takotna to and program begin for an Alaskan experi- begin their tour. at 6:30 pm.

ence in the north. For The students will Please come out and Inside this issue: the past several years be at Viking Hall join us in making Sons of Norway families on Thursday, Feb- them feel welcome and Movie “” 2 have hosted the stu- ruary 9th, the night to learn more about dents during their time Scandinavian Mystery Night 2 of our potluck and the Norwegian Folk in Anchorage. There business meeting, High School experi- Super Bowl Party 3 are ten students coming to give a program ence. Sunshine Report 3 this year, eight men telling us a bit Woodcarving Seminar 3 Viking Hall News 4 4 Kaffeslabberas Fra Biblioteket a little in... 5 Thursday, February 16th

Lodge Curling Team 6 11:30 -1:30 @ Viking Hall

Lodge Scholarships 6 The best place in town for lunch! Cultural Corner 7 Language Classes 7 Come and enjoy the wonderful soups and sandwiches at a very reasonable price. Please call ahead to Viking Hall @ 349-1613, Rosemaling Classes 7 but we always welcome drop-ins. FEBRUARY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 2

Big Screen Movie Night Event Charge - $5

Saturday, February 18 Ages up to16yrs - Free

 Lodge Provides—Drinks, 5:30 pm popcorn & dessert.

“Max Manus - Man of War”  Brown Bag Dinner—Bring your own dinner of choice.

In Norwegian with English subtitles  Bar will be open for members

A kid-friendly movie will be shown in the to purchase, beer, wine, etc. Lodge library downstairs. This biographical drama tells the story of Max Manus, perhaps the most famous resistance fighter in Norway during World War II.

Max Manus, who after fighting as a volunteer for Finland in the Soviet-Finnish Winter War of 1939–40, returned to Norway on the day of the German invasion of Norway, April 9, 1940. He was a pioneer of the Norwegian resistance movement and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941. He escaped to the United Kingdom for training and went back as a saboteur for the Norwegian Independent Company 1, better known as Lingekompaniet. He became a specialist in ship sabotage and sank ships that were important to the German Kriegsmarine, including the SS Donau on January 16, 1945.

Max was famous for being one of the most brilliant saboteurs during World War II. After the war he wrote several books about his adventures and started the successful office supply company Max Manus AS. He was awarded Norway's highest decoration for military gallantry, the War Cross with Sword. In addition to his Nor- wegian decorations, Manus received the British Military Cross and Bar. During the final years of his life, Manus and his wife Tikken lived primarily in Spain, where he died at the age of 81 in 1996.

Scandinavian Mystery Night & Pølse Lapskaus Stew

Saturday, January 28 5:30 pm

Come see a Scandinavian mystery movie and enjoy Dinner Prices: a pølse lapskaus dinner. What could be better in

Adults $10 midwinter than Norwegian comfort food and a movie from the northern lands. (non-members $12) Because the movie may not be appropriate for Ages 5-12—$5 younger children we will have a showing of kid- Under 5yrs— Free friendly films in the Lodge library downstairs.

Please call Viking Hall at Tickets will be sold at the door, but we encourage 349-1613 for reservations. reservations so we know how many folks to cook for. FEBRUARY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 3

Woodcarving Seminar Welcome New & The Last Frontier Woodcarvers are offering Returning Members! another day of woodcarving Saturday, March 10, 9am-4pm at Viking Hall, for all those who would Signe Andersen like to try their hand at this skill. There will be 10 classes Lillian Anderson offered from which you pick the one that would suit you the Merwin Arneson best.

Sheen Bjelland Cost is $20 per person which includes the wood, tools George Dana to use, carving instructions, choice of project and a Mark Hill great lunch. A parent must attend with any child partici- Michael James pating. Brehan Kohl The class projects will be available to see at Artistry Michael LeViegegrant in Wood in the Northway Mall from February 22- Sandra Libkie March 4. This would be a great time to register for Matthew Olnes one of the classes. Woodcarvers, woodturners, woodwork- Lora Reinbold ers and woodscrollers will be demonstrating throughout the Trude Rylandsholm Artistry in Wood event for everyone to watch and learn. Laurie Balchen-Walsh Just stopping by the Northway Mall to see the fantastic Erling Westlien exhibit will be well worth your time.

Dorothea Williams For more information and to sign up for a fun day of carving contact Cindy McDowell at 696-0725 or 862-1143.

Sunshine Sons of Norway Report Scholarship Fund

Greetings are sent to the fol- lowing members celebrating SUPER BOWL PARTY @ Viking Hall a birthday in January who are at least 75 years young. Watch the Game on the Big Screen "Happy Birthday" Sunday, February 5th ―Gratulerer med dagen!‖

David Lee Doors open early for Pregame Show Anton Meyer Super Bowl Game Starts @ 2pm

If you know someone who needs Raffle Drawing Held During Game a little sunshine, please call Cindy McDowell 696-0725 Only 300 Tickets Sold - 20 Winners! (cell—862-1143) or email at [email protected]. Top Prize of $1,000!!

Lutefisk for Sale—$9 per lb. Come and Enjoy Lapskaus Stew, Snacks, Frozen - 4 & 5 Pound Packages Liquid Refreshment & Good Company

Lefse for Sale—$20 No Event Charge for Ticket Holders Package of 1-dozen PAGE 4 THE FLYER FEBRUARY 2012

Fra biblioteket Real Norwegian’s Eat Lutefisk reluctant endeavor of tasting initial experiences with is a children’s book for all ag- lutefisk to embracing lutefisk lutefisk. For our Norwegian es by Rose Marie Meuwissen. as a cherished family tradition. language scholars the text is in The story is about that fa- both Norwegian and English. Additionally there are a few mous or infamous rite of be- The book is available for your pages devoted to the prepara- coming Norwegian. You are perusal in the lodge library. tion and lore of lutefisk. The taken on a journey of a young pages are enhanced by the boy as he ponders the smell, Merlin Hamre rosemaled border by Shirley appearance, consistency and Library Committee Evanstad and the illustrations finally the taste of lutefisk. of Kelly Frankenberg will have It takes us from his initial you reminiscing about your

Viking Hall News Rental bookings for 2011. The insurance costs are effort. Thanks to Ted weddings and parties for 2012 shared between Sons of Norway Birkedal, Anita Persson and are looking good. Income for and Viking Hall. John and Cynthia Olnes for 2011 along with the generous recent closings. support of our members has We have finally had to replace allowed us to pay off the short the copier in the Viking Hall If you would like to commemo- term loan for the roof replace- office. Sandra and Don Hanson rate an event in your life and ment early and fund other donated the Canon copier sever- ―cast it in stone‖ we would be improvements. We continue al years ago and it has served very happy to take your order to work on building up the us well. Thanks also to Clayton for a brick to be placed at the building and maintenance re- McDowell, Cindy’s husband, base of the flagpoles. Each serve fund for future needs. who has been servicing the old brick is $100 with the pro- copier for the past few years. ceeds going toward the The Alaska USA Insurance Maintenance and Improve- Volunteers are always needed Brokers quote for the 2012 ment fund. property and liability insur- to close for rentals. Contact the ance was slightly lower than Viking Hall office staff if you John Olnes can help with this important Viking Hall President

Bishop NEW YEARS PARTY from The Norwegian Kitchen

Attendance was down from previous years for the • 3 cups (7 ½ dl) water * Spiced wine is a common • 1 vanilla bean 2011 New Year’s Eve party however the 50+ guests Scandinavian drink during • 2 sticks cinnamon the holiday season or and helpers rang in the new year in grand style. • 12 whole black during those long, cold peppercorns Marge Ford & The Polka Chips with guest performers nights of winter. The most common drink is called • ⅔ cup (1 ½ dl) sugar from the Button Box Gang and our very own Marit Kristiansen and gløgg, however, here is a • 1 bottle (3/4 liter, Sig Langnes filled the Hall with great song and music. The dancers different version called 3 cups) red wine bisp, or in English, “bishop." • 3 ½ tbsp. (½ dl) responded with great enthusiasm. Festive decorations made for an 60% alcohol excellent party atmosphere. We heard good reports about the party, dinner, dessert and of course the midnight champagne. Bring water, spices and sugar to boil. Simmer over low heat about 90 minutes. Strain. Add Thank you to the wonderful crew that made it possible. Those helping red wine and alcohol. Bishop can also be made with blueberry or cherry wine. were Jim & Ann Tibor, David Michaelson, Ed Larsen, Wendy Gould, An alcohol-free version can be made with and John & Cynthia Olnes. black currant or blueberry juice.

Serve warm in high glasses. FEBRUARY 2012 THE FLYER PAGE 5 a little in English... litt på norsk... Ivar Aasen and New Norwegian Ivar Aasen og nynorsken

There was one direction sought to create a totally Den eine retninga gjekk inn for å byggje independent Norwegian written language based on opp eit heilt sjølvstendig norsk dialects. That direction was created by Ivar Aasen skriftspråk på grunnlag av dialektane. Denne ret- (1813-1896). He was a country boy and a dialect user ninga vart grunnlagd av Ivar Aasen (1813–1896). from Sunnmøre, and was under the early understand- Han var bygdegut og dialektbrukar frå Sunnmøre, ing that a thorough survey of dialects in various coun- og kom tidleg til at ei grundig undersøking av di- ties was integral to creating the basis for a Norwegian alektane i ulike landsdelar var nødvendig for å written language. skape grunnlag for eit norsk skriftspråk.

With a public inquiry scholarship he traveled around Med eit offentleg granskingsstipend reiste han rundt the country from 1842-46, he made a comparative sur- i landet i tida 1842–46, gjorde ei jamførande un- vey of grammar and vocabulary between the dialects, dersøking av grammatikk og ordtilfang i dialektane, and made a comparative grammar of that in 1848 and og laga ein samanliknande grammatikk over dei i a dictionary in 1850. He got a scholarship to investi- 1848 og ei ordbok i 1850. Han fekk stipend til å gate further and followed up with a little book where granske vidare, og følgde opp med ei lita bok der han he compiled texts of different dialects and combined samla tekster på ulike dialektar, og føydde til nokre these texts to propose a common form of the dialects. tekster på ei foreslått fellesform for dialektane.

This norm, which he called landsmål (country lan- Denne norma, som han kalla landsmål, bygde han ut guage), he built upon in the years that followed, by i åra som følgde, både ved å gi ut ein større gram- creating a larger grammar (1864) and a comprehen- matikk (1864) og ei omfattande ordbok (1873), og sive dictionary (1873) and by writing poems and plays ved å skrive dikt og skodespel på det. Alt frå slutten with it. At the end of the 1850s, others began to write av 1850-åra begynte andre å skrive på landsmål, og in landsmål and ten years later it was taught in a ti år etterpå vart det undervist i det på ein folkehøg- folkehøgskole (adult learning school). skole.

The landsmål language was officially recognized as an Landsmålet vart offisielt jamstilt med dansk i 1885, official language with Danish in 1885, and was ap- og vart godkjent som undervisningsspråk i proved as a language of instruction in schools in 1892 barneskolen i 1892 (etter local avgjerd). Frå 1890 til (after local ruling). From 1890 to 1930 it expanded as 1930 ekspanderte det som skolespråk og allment a school language and as a language of popular usage bruksspråk i fleire landsdelar, men berre på lands- in many regions, but only in the rural areas. In 1929 bygda. I 1929 fekk språket offisielt namnet nynorsk the language was given the official name of nynorsk etter stortingsvedtak.

(new Norwegian) via parliamentary vote. *Taken from Språkrådet, http://www.sprakrad.no/nb-NO/Politikk-Fakta/Fakta/

Ski for Light 2012 Event—Year—Location? Lodge members Heather Look for the answer inside this issue. Hall and John Olnes will be participating as guides Thursday, February 2nd at the 37th annual Ski for

Light International Week Board Meeting taking place at the Soldier at 7 pm

Hollow cross-country ski area near Provo, Utah, Thursday, February 9th

February 5-12. Program/Potluck

Ski for Light is an all- at 6:30 pm

volunteer, non-profit, Officer Installation/ organization founded in Business Meeting 1975. The goal of the at 7:30 pm organization is to teach visually- and mobility- Board Meeting & Business impaired adults how to Meeting Open to All cross-country ski. PAGE 6 THE FLYER FEBRUARY 2012

Lodge Curling Team Members Winter Olympics 2022 In the wake of last year's successful Nordic World Ski Championships, is look- ing to host its next big sport- ing event: the 2022 Winter Olympics.

In October the president of the Norwegian Ski Association, Sverre Seeberg, announced that all seven of the winter sports organizations were in agreement about mounting a bid to host the games in 2022. "In the course of this autumn, we must get positive feedback from the City of Oslo and the state if this has any realistic possibility of succeeding," said Seeberg.

Should Oslo be successful in a 2022 bid, the games would likely be held in a number of lo- cations in Norway: downhill sking and bobsled taking place around Lillehammer, ski jumping in Vikersund and hockey in Oslo, Lørenskog, L to R: David Lee-Skip, Marilyn Lee-Lead, Asker and Østfold. Merlin Hamre-Second, Mike Anderson-Vice Skip While public support for the bid appears to be high–a poll conducted just after the Winter For the first time our Lodge is sponsoring a World Championships showed 60% approval Curling team. The team is having a winning of a Oslo Winter Olympics among those sur- season and Lodge members are encouraged veyed–there are those that feel the significant to cheer their team on at any or all of the funds needed to host the games would be bet- upcoming curling events. The team will be ter spent on infrastructure projects. Rival curling on the following Fridays at 6:30 Norwegian hosting sites, such as Tromsø, are pm. also speaking out against an Oslo Olympic bid.

January 27, February 10 Norway's national sports federation hasn't as March 16, March 23 of yet drafted any cost estimates for the The Anchorage Curling Club venue is located games, however, the federation president, at 711 E. Loop Road on Government Hill. If Børre Rognlien, says he has "informally" you would like directions please contact one shared the Olympic plans with city politicians of the team members. and first reactions were positive. In order to formally apply, a completed application and state guarantee must be received by the International Olympic Committee by the end Lodge Scholarships of 2013. Oslo last hosted the Winter Olympics in 1952. The 2012 Scholarship applications for both the Higher Education Scholarship and the Heritage Scholarship Adapted from Views and News from Norway are available at the Sons of Norway Lodge and by email at [email protected].

The Higher Education Scholarship is for persons en- Scholarship recipients will be chosen by April 30th tering a school of learning beyond high school level. and announced at the 17th of May Celebration.

The Heritage Scholarship is for persons desiring to If you have questions concerning application learn the language and heritage subjects offered in requirements and procedures, please contact these programs. Wallace Smith, Chair of the Scholarship Commit- Application deadlines are once again April 15. tee, at 346-3659 or by email at [email protected]. PAGE 7 THE FLYER FEBRUARY 2012

Cultural Corner—The Mystery of the Collapsing Fish Balls It is important not to lose bits and pieces of your perfect. Then we put the cod in the traditions, Norwegian or otherwise. A bit here, a hot water to poach to equal perfec- bit there, and then things can fall apart as they tion. They went in intact but soon, did for me this past Christmas. to our horror, the cod fish balls began to slowly but surely fall apart. With- Our family Christmas traditions do not include in a minute or two we had nothing lutefisk. In fact my first introduction to this but fish soup. strange dish was at Viking Hall in the first dec- ade of this century. Although I had apparently Perplexed, Robyn and I carefully tried the second eaten it on occasion as a small child in Stavanger, batch of cod fish balls. They did not fall apart, but Norway, of this I have no memory--or perhaps it they were hardly firm. This batch of fish balls were is a suppressed memory. Nonetheless, in my ear- soggy and unappealing, not a full disaster, but close ly Norwegian household lutefisk was not consid- enough. Robyn and I could not understand why the ered festive Christmas fare, but viewed as halibut fish balls were successful while the cod fish "Monday's food"—something you ate when noth- balls were not. We reviewed both our recipe and ing better was available. our execution. Both the halibut and the cod had been prepared in an identical manner. We were Stavanger, my home town, is a large seaside town both at a loss as to what the problem was. in southwestern Norway. In my parent’s era you could buy live cod from a big tank down by the Later in the week I told my older brother of the harbor. With fine fresh fish year-round why Christmas Eve fish ball disaster. Being twelve would you want to eat a year-old fish preserved in years my senior he is much wiser in the foodways of lye? So, on Christmas Eve the dinner in my fami- Norway than I. He immediately put his finger on ly centers on fresh fish. Since arriving in Alaska the problem. "Did you use frozen cod?" he asked. I some twenty-six years ago the fish has usually said, "Yes." He pointed out that you cannot use fro- been halibut. For the past ten years I have been zen fish to make fish balls because freezing de- the designated fish chef on Christmas Eve and I stroys the very enzymes that are necessary to bind- invariably choose to make Norwegian fish balls in ing the fish paste that makes up the balls. white sauce. I have used various recipes over the years, most more or less successful. The mystery behind the collapsing fish balls was solved. And my daughter and I were the recipients This year I decided to go with both halibut and of an essential piece of food knowledge that was cod. At twenty dollars a pound halibut had be- necessary to making successful batches of tradition- come a luxury, even for Christmas, so I purchased al Norwegian fish balls on future Christmas Eves. a pound of fresh halibut and a pound and a half of frozen cod. I recruited my younger daughter, Terje ―Ted‖ Birkedal, Cultural Director Robyn, as my side chef. She was trained at the Martin Luther King Career Center and is a con- (pg. 5 quiz answer) firmed "foodie." We made the first batch of fish 4th of July Parade—1947—Anchorage balls out of the halibut. They came out firm and

Norwegian Language & Culture Classes Rosemaling Classes

The word rosemaling is used to describe a form of Beginning: Sunday 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM decorative flower painting that originated in Nor- Advanced: Sunday 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM way in the 1700s. Rosemaling classes with Anna Decker now meet twice a month rather than week- If you are interested in taking one of the classes ly. Class dates for February are the 14th and please contact Ted Birkedal, Cultural 28th, 7-9 p.m. Classes are open to all experience Director, at (907) 351-6095 or via email at levels and new individuals are always welcome to attend. Contact Anna at 694-2051 for more infor- [email protected]. mation. Non Profit Organization Sons of Norway US Postage 8141 Briarwood St. PAID Anchorage, AK 99518 Anchorage, Alaska PERMIT 505 907-349-1613

Scandinavian Mystery Night Saturday, January 28, 5:30 pm & Pølse Lapskaus Dinner February Events FOOD BANK DONATIONS 2 Thursday 7 pm Board Meeting, all welcome Our lodge continues to donate canned goods, 5 Sunday 2 pm Super Bowl Party, pg 3 non-perishable foods and money to the local food bank. 9 Thursday 6:30 pm Program/Potluck Please bring your 7:30 pm Officer Installation/Business Meeting food or monetary donation in to Viking 14 Tuesday 7-9 pm Rosemaling with Anna Decker Hall. 16 Thursday 11:30-1:30 Kaffeslabberas, pg. 1 18 Saturday 5:30 pm Movie Night - ”Max Manus” pg. 2 25 Saturday 11am-4 pm Bridge Builders—Anchorage Museum 28 Tuesday 7-9 pm Rosemaling with Anna Decker Weekly Events Sundays 5:30-6:30 pm Beginning Norwegian Language and Culture 7-8 pm Advanced Norwegian Language and Culture All events take place at Viking Hall, 8141 Briarwood St., unless otherwise noted. Please send articles or event information for the next newsletter by the 15th to [email protected] or call Cynthia at 562-2794 with questions